Method of and machine for making and filling packages for fluent substances



Oct. 7, 1952 L. SALFISBERG 2,612,738

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MAKING AND FILLING PACKAGES FOR FLUENT SUBSTANCES Filed May 21, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 lllllmg 2 TORNEY Oct 952 L 1.. SALFISBRG 2,612,738

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MAKING AND FILLING PACKAGES FOR FLUENT SUBSTANCES Filed May 21, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

A TTORNBY Oct. 7, 1952 I SALFISBERG 2,612,738

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MAKING AND FILLING PACKAGES FOR FLUENT SUBSTANCES Filed May 21, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 I INVEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y Oct. 7, 1952 L. SALFISBERG 2,612,738

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MAKING AND FILLING PACKAGES FOR FLUENT SUBSTANCES Filed May 21, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 ""lllli INVENTOR. a Y fly ATTORNEY Oct. 7, 1952 L. SALFISBERG 2,512,738

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MAKING AND FILLING PACKAGES FOR FLUENT SUBSTANCES Filed May 21, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 I 7 A TTORNEY Oct. 7, 1952 L.SALFISBERG 2,612,738

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MAKING AND FILLING PACKAGES FOR FLUENT SUBSTANCES Filed May 21, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 M2 MW INVENTOR.

. j, BY 2 5 @ATTURNEY Oct. 7, 1952 L. L. SALFISBERG 9 3 METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MAKING AND FILLING PACKAGES FOR FLUENT SUBSTANCES 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed May 21, 1948 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Oct 7, 1952 METHOD FOR MAKING AND FILLINGPACKAGES FGR "FLUENfI"-' SUBSTANCES Leroy L..Salfis'berg, .South range,.N.J.,assignor Ito lvers-LeefCompany, Newark, N. J a e0 1 ;ration .of Delaware ApplicationiMayZl, 1948,;Ser1al No.28l495. H

-This invention zrelates-ingeneral toiimao'hines for; making and filling packages in a eontinumls operation, especially packages iforyrfiuent substan e such as pewder.eranu1es. paste orzliquid. More particularly. the invention seontemplatesst-he rformation ef'zpackages from a hreformed tube :of

packaging material whichmeyrbeieitherzseemless' scored in :spaeedrelation :to the sealed: zone and I thereafter:flexed-aondefiormed sees temrowlcleran upeningattheslitsarscoreinthe'wallsiofmhe'tube :eboue sai'rlyforansverse :JZQIIE .ithroug h which the material-to he paekagedrxis tiepesiiiecl, whereaiter the walls :of the tube shall he sealed-togethernejacenl said npeningto :comp'lete a nazokage;

Another .0135801? eof rtheiimzention is 7110 :momdee ino'veland-:immoued; method :andiapparatus. for slitting and separating the walls :of the tube-ro'f zpaokagi-ng'materiah Other .ob'jects rare itoproridea maehinemf this character which sha'zllaembody norelrandfimprored rfeamures :of :e0nStmmtiQniwhehby. paekagesrmay be formed-:and-uilledainmapid :suneession with e minimum :of1attention fl-rem \the apple-rater, and i to zobtain other aaclvantagesiand results that willzbe :bmughtmut hythe following description in eonjunction with the accompanying drawmgs,r which Figure :1 is a schematic front welerational anew eta-machine embodying the invention .-for-.making n macka es;

.Eigure 2 is'ran enlarged transverse vxuertioal seemional mew, approximately. on :the plane/oi fithfi line, I'2:-.-2 oiFigure :1;

L3 -:-a :s'imilarwiew, eapproinmately em ithe'p'lane of the line:3- 3 :ofrfiigurejig' Figure-:4 :is are enlargeci ijhorizontal :sectional view, on the inlanewofathe line of Figural;

FFigureifi is anenlarrged fragmentarypersneetiue rot-a nontionr pf [the tube rof'zpaekag-ing material; the :means :for separating :the dayers eff-the :tuhesandthesspoutfor depositmgthematerial to foe lpacka'geri, showing the manner pf: fillin 2 "package:

I Figure 6 ism view eimilartosl iigurel. ashowing a modification-ofthe-invention; I v

Figure 71s (an enla ged-vertical sectional-view, on the plane 0f the line =1--.1 .of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an elevational view of a completed package before severance thereof from the tube. approximately iron: the plane -of,the;line 8--*,8- of .Eig-ure 6; I

Figure- 9 is ran-enlarged horizontal sectional @view, fimproximatelypnithe planeiof the line S -9 'ofFigure-fi; I I

Figure 10 is a side selevational-uiew ofionelof :theisealing :rollersirom the plenenoi the line tie-Moi Figure 6;

Figure :llhis va, rtragmentary. front, -eleuationa1 view :of ianother form of the machine embodying the invention; I

Figure 112 is a side :elevational Mew, approximately from-the planeiof. the time ll- 12 of Figure 1-1 v Figure 13 is an enlarged-fragmentary endselenational "view-of the slittingflrollers, showing the well of the tube :in-eross-seetion :therebetweerr-to illustrate the manner of slitting rene wall of ithe tube; V

Figure 14 .is ,a side -ze1evational wiew, from the plane of ,the line -|;4-- M of Figure :11; V

Figure :15 is-a view similar to *Eigure 14 showing a further modifieationef the invention;

Figures .16 and -17 are side relax/ ationaliv-iews. from the :planes :of the lines I 6-i6 and II- H, vrespectively,of Figure .15

Figure 1181s a plan iviewiof the .tube-of .-pack-aging material, showing a partially'pompletedapackage and a completed package Figure 19 is a front elevational view of a machine embodying anether modification --.of the :in-

'vention;

Figure 20 is :an enlarged :side ,elevational view, from the planeiof the :line 20-20 of Fi ure 1.9;,

Figure 2-1 is a fragmentar y'plan .view of (the V tube of packagingmaterial, vshowing a portion oft-an incomplete paokage and anothereompleted Package, approximately :irom vthe plane -;of the line 21-21 or Figure 19;.

Fignre22 is a side eleuationalyiew of-another form ofemachine embodying the invention, and

Figure 23 is aifragmentary side elevational :view, approximately irom the :plane of the .line' 13-43 zof Flgure22.

For the purpose oiillustrating the principles of the invention and refierring ,particularlyto Figures 1 5 inclusive-l haveshorwn themechine :schematically.-asineluding .a suitable frame .prsupport plate fl -on which is ,a stud i2 ,ior freofthe tube. crating crimping and sealing ribs I I that extend width of the tube so that uncut portions wound a continuous tube 4 of packaging material. This tube may be formed in any suitable manner, but, as shown, is seamless and has longitudinal folds 5 forming in effect gussets which connect. opposed approximately flat side walls 6. Preferably, the tube is formed of a heatsealable material and most desirably material which is itself softenable or fusible under heat, for example, rubber hydrochloride or polyvinyl chloride, otherwise known as 'Pliofilm and K'oroseal, respectively.

The tube of packaging material is fed either intermittently or continuously, as desired, in the direction indicated by the arrow, by feed rolls 1 that are driven by any suitable means such andbetween' the reel and the feed rolls the side walls of the tube are sealed together by sealing'and crimping rolls 9 in transverse zones 10 thatare spaced equidistantly longitudinally As shown, the rolls 9 have cooplongitudinally of the rolls and across the whole widthiof the tube, and suitable means such as electrical heaters I 2 are disposed within the rolls for heating the latter to heat-seal the walls of the tube. As shown, the rolls are mounted onshafts l3 journaled in the frame I and driven the shafts 13 within the rolls have coaxial recesses 15 in which the heaters are located.

It will be understood that the crimped zones ill will be spaced apart according to the desired length of the package to be formed, each zone forming-one end of a package, and between the crimp roll 9 and the feed roll "I are arranged slitting rolls l6 having cooperating knives 1'!- to slit both walls 6 of the tube 4 at the leading side of and closely adjacent to each sealed zone 19, as best shown in Figure 1, the knives I! extending across only a portion of the 18 are left between the ends of the slit l9 and the longitudinal edges of the tube, as best shown in Figure 5. These slitting rolls [6 may be mounted and driven in any suitable manner, for example, by shafts 2D journaled in the frame I and driven by intermeshing gears 21 one of which is connected to any suitable source of 23 which contains the substance to be packaged. Below the mouth or discharge end of the spout 22 and at opposite sides of the path of movement of the tube 4, are located two vacuum tubes 24 that have opposednozzles'25 and are connected to a suitablesuction-producing, apparatus so as to cause or produce suction at said nozzles such as to draw the opposed walls -6 oithe tube' apart adjacent the slit [3, one

against each nozzle 25, "as shown in Figure 1, and thereby form an opening through the slit into thepartially completed package for the deposit of the substance from the spout 22. In

timed relation to the movement of the tube 4 "and as each split in the tube becomes located adjacent and beneath the spout 22, a predetermined quantity of the substance 25 to be packaged is deposited by gravity between the spreadapart walls 6 of the tube. Any suitable means for controlling the deposit of the substance may be utilized, but for purposes of illustration I have shown schematically a normally spring closed valve 21 that is opened periodically in timed relation to the movement of the tube 4 by a lug on an actuating disk 28 that may be driven in any suitable manner.

After the substance has been deposited, the tube moves between a second set of crimping and sealing rolls 29 that may be identical with the rolls 9 and which seal the walls of the tube 4 transversely in zones 30 closely adjacent but below the slit 59 through which the package is filled so as to complete the package B.

It is desirable that some means be provided for positively causing longitudinal movement of the tube 4 from the feed rolls and past the filling station at the mouth of the spout 22, and

forthis purpose I have shown two brushes 3| rotatably mounted on parallel axes and friction- :ally engaging opposite sides of the filled portion of the package tube 4 below the crimping rolls 29, said brushes being constantly driven by any suitable means.

In this way,-a continuous chain or strip of packages is formed, and this package strip can be severed into groups of packages or individual packages as may be desired. As shown, I have provided a pair of severing rolls 32 that are driven in any suitable manner and sever the package strip between the individual packages, preferably along the respective slits I9.

Figures 6-40, inclusive, show a modification of the invention wherein the tube 4' of packaging material is pulled from the spool 3 by combined feeding, crimping and sealing rolls 33 which have crimping and sealing ribs 34 corresponding to the ribs ll of the rolls 9 between which the peripheries of the rolls have sponge rubber portions 35 to firmly grip the tube of packaging material. These rolls 33 crimp and seal the side walls of the tube together just'as do the rolls 9 to form transverse sealed zones'36, and after this sealing operation the sidewalls of the tube are slit, as indicated at 37, by slitting rolls 38 that may be in general the same as'the slitting rolls l6 but have their knife blades 39 modified to form the slits 37 which extend across a portion of the width of the tube 4 and through one edge thereof, instead of slits like the slits l8.

From the. slitting rolls the packaging tube passes over an idler roller 40 and then downwardly alongside a depositing spout 4| of a hopper 42 for the substance to be packaged. When each'slit 31. is disposed closely adjacent but below the discharge end of the spout 4|, the side walls of the tube are pulled apart by vacuum tubes 43 that correspond to the vacuum tubes 24, and at the same time, the portion of the tube 4 of packaging substance above the slit is deflected away from the discharge'end of the spout by a suitable deflector fin or lug- 44 On the side of the spout, as best shown in Figure 9, so that the substance 45 being packaged may be deposited into the package through the opening formed by the slit 3'! without'obstruction from the portion of the tube 4 above the slit. The deposit of the substance into the package may be controlled in any suitable manner,for example as described in connection with the machine shown in Figure 1.

After the package has been filled, the tube is 'pulled downwardly through a second set of crimping and sealing rolls 46 by auxiliary feedseine-es 'ing means that may constitute brushes 1-! "like the brushes 3|. The rolls '46' seal the-sidewalls of the tube together throughout the width of the tube in zones 48 so as to complete the-packages D, and these-packages maybe severed from the package strip as desired, for example, by severing rolls '49, preferably along the respective slits 31 and between the top seal 48 of one package-and the bottom 'seal 36 of 'the next succeeding package;

- '-In Figures 1 1-14, inclusive, is shown another form of machine and method embodying :the invention.- Here, the tube 4 :of paokaging'material is pulled from the spool :3 "byieeding rolls like the rolls '1, between-initial crimping rolls ,5! like the "rolls ll thatseal the side walls of :the tube 4 to ether in transverse zones ttacross the whole width of the 'tube. In this :form "of :the invention, only one side wall of "the tube .is slit, instead of both side walls, and :asshownthe initially sealed tube is :pulled dowmuardly between slitting rolls 53 and 15! zone :of which, namely the roll 53, serves :as 'a platen engaging one :siderof the tube :4 while the other roll :has a blade 55 :at

opposite sides of which are platen bars'56 whose outer surfaces are disposedv inwardly from the knife edge a distance approximately equal to the thickness of zone walllof the tube 4,;as best shown in Figure 513. :In operation, as the tube walls6 pass between the .rolls "53 and 54, the knife blade 55 is :pressed against the juxtaposed tube wall 6 but penetration iii the blade into said wall is limited by the :platen :bars 56 so as to form a slit 5! tin only-said one wallrof the tube.

Aifterthe' tube 4 has been slit it :passes over an idler :roller 5,8 "and then downwardly alongside a depositing spout :59 of a .hopper 60 ,for the substance being packaged. .As each slit intheapackage tube becomes :disposed adjacent the discharge end of the spout .59, the-zslitted wall of the packagetube is separated from theother wall by a vacuum tube .6! similar .to one of the tubes 24, whereupon the substance being packaged is deposited :from the spout 159 through the opening formed :by the slit into; the partially completed package.

Any suitable means may be provided for controlling the deposit of the substance being packaged, for example, those hereinbefore described,

However, in some instances 'ibtma'y :be desirable to actually insert'the discharge end of the depositing spout into the partially completed "package,

tor example, to restrict the escape of dust or powdered substance fromtherpackageduring the filling operation. For this purpose, the hopper and spoutmay normally be in :the position shown means. It will be understood by those skilled in,

the art that instead of moyingwthe hopper-with the .spout, the spout'mig'ht be slidably connected torthe hopper and moved independently of the hopper.

.After the substance has been deposited in the package, the package :strippassesrthrough :or'impingand sealing rolls 63' like the rolls?!) to form ithe'final seal 64 for completing the package, and

then the groups {or individual-packages separated the -strip :by severing-rolls .65; i

As shown, preferably auxiliary :feeding means such as the brushes 566 are ntilizedforpullingzthe package strip downwardly past ithe filling station and final sealing. rolls 15.3..

Figures 1 5-118, inclusive, show aimo clification'of the, invention wherein ithe package tube lc is a plain tube without :gussets or longitudinal folds, and the :tube hasits side walls i'fiaisealed'together along its longitudinal edges :in rzones 1H ade- =sired, the tube-might ibe vtermed :ofitumseparute strips of packaging materialhaving their :longitudinal marginal portions :sealedztogether term the zones :61. The packaging matenia'lris pulled from the reel 23 by'jffid. rolls t8 and passes around "an: idler. rollerrfiS downwardly along and closely adjacent a depositing spout ffll o'f -a hopper H the substance beingpac'kaged.

At opposite sides of the spout 10" and of the packaging material are cooperating sealingiand crimping rolls 12 which have segmental ,peoipheral:sealingandflcrimpingJfianges 13 to fro-rm the longitudinal sealed zones li l anduleaverunsealed portions '14 between the "adjacent ends of sue- 'cessivezones 61, as best shown in Figure 18. From the sealing rolls 1.2 the .packageartube pulled downwardly by auxiliary feec'iing means such vas the brushes .15: between opposed suction nozzles 16 like the nozzles 24 which pull apart the walls of the packagetube, as shown iniFigure :15. Immediately above the nozzles 11; is a slitting knife 31 that is rotatable in :a horizontal plane :by suitable gearing IB jin timed relation to the i-lllOVBr ment of the package tube'so thatathe knifowlll slit one wall of the distended-p-ackage'tube, as-iindica'ted at lo. i

Then the deposltingsspout flilralone-or with the hopper "H is lowered so asto'project the end of the spout through the slit 1:9 and between the walls of the package tube, as shown by :solidlines in Figure l5. Simultaneouslywith or prior to the lowering of the spout, the walls of the package tube are sealed together below the slit "by sealing rolls ztll'zthat haveportions 8] "to form transverse sealed:zones 82 extending across the package tube and meeting .or slightly overlapping thg'long'itu- .dinal zonesit' 1, as bestshownin Figures 17 and 18. As shown, these transverse zones 82 iform the bottom seal of one package {and simultaneously seal the top of. the znextpreceding package at opposite sides :o-f :each slit 19-so that one patikage E is com 'pleted simultaneously with the formation of the bottom seal 'ofthe next succeeding =-package. Preferably; the packages are severed from "the stripalongithe slits-l9;

,Any suitable 'means may be utilized for raising and lowering the discharge spout Inf-but I have schematically shown a lever 433- pivotally connected intermediate its ends on a fixed support .84 and pivotallyconnectedatone end at 85 tothe spout and hopper. 'The otherend of-the lever has a ball '86 which follows a cam groove "8! inan actuating cam 88 that is driven in' any suitable manner in timed relation to the movement ofthe package tube 4. Normally, the spout is 'locatedin :the' position shown by broken lines in Figure 15, and aftereach slit has been formedin'the pack age tube, the spout is lowered through said slit, asrshown by solid .lines in Figure-l5. "The dis-'- charge of the substance from the spout may be controlled inany suitable manner, forexample, as shown-in Figurel. i

' The invention also contemplates the use of other-means than the suction nozzles-torso? stating the slitted walls of the package tube, and Figures I92l,inc1usive, schematically illustrate a machine of this type. Here, the package tube 4 is drawn from the spool 3 by any suitable feeding mechanism, for example, mechanism of the type shown in my copending application Serial No. 673,394, filed May 31, 1946, now Patent Number 2,512,216,.granted June 20, 1950, which includes two idler rollers 89 and 90 between which is a vertically movable feeding roller SI and with which cooperates auxiliary feeding means such as the brushes 92 for constantly pulling the package tube from the main feeding means 89, 90, 9!, whereby when the package tube is held against movement at or beyond the roller 90 and the roller BI is moved downwardly, a predetermined quantity of the package tube is pulled from the spool 3, andv when the roller 9| moves upwardly and the tube is released for movement at or beyond the roller 90, the auxiliary feeding means 92 will'pull said predetermined quantity downwardly.

The tube is fed through combined sealing and slitting rolls 93 that have sealing ribs 94 and closely disposed slitting knives 95 whereby to form a sealed zone 96 extending entirely across :the tube and to simultaneously form a slit 91 that extends only through an intermediate portion of the width of the package tube, as shown in Figure 21.

From the sealing and slitting rolls 83, the package tube is drawn downwardly by the brushes 92 past and beneath a depositing spout 08 of a hopper 99 for the substance being packaged. At opposite sides of thepackage tube and below the spout is disposed separating mechanism fo the walls of the package tube. This mechanism is shown as comprising two identical levers I00, one at each of opposite sides of the package tube and pivoted at One end on a fixed support, as indie cated at IOI. At the free end of each lever is a roller I02 over which passes an adhesive-carrying tape I03 which is pulled step by step from a supply roll I04 by a roll I05 which is actuated step by step in any suitable manner as by means of a pawl lever I06 which carries a spring pawl I07 cooperating with a ratchet I08 on the end of the roll I05, the lever I06 being connected by a link. I09 to any suitable source of power. A pressuresensitive adhesive is disposed on both sides of the tapes I03 so that when the levers I00 are pressed toward each other and into contact with th walls of the package tube 4, as shown by broken lines mm, the adhesive will adhere to said walls and the rollers I02, and upon movement of said levers in the opposite direction the walls of the package tube below the slit will be pulled apart, as shown by solid lines, so as to permit deposit of the substance to b packaged from the spout 98; and thereafter the levers will be further moved in the same direction, as indicated by broken lines I001), to pull the tape out of contact with the walls of the package tube. Any suitable means may be usedfor oscillating the levers I00, but I have shown crank disks IIII connected by links Hi to the respective levers.

With this construction, it will be observed that fresh zones of the adhesive tapes I03 will be presented .as required for efficient adhesive contact of the tape with the packaging material. During the deposit of the substance into the partially completed package, the slitted end of the previously filled package is sealed by rolls I I2 that correspond in structure and function to the rolls 29 and seal the package in the same way, and

thereafter the packages may be severed from the package strip by severing rolls I I3.

In Figures 22 and 23 is shown another method and machine embodyin my invention wherein the package tube 4 passes between a feed roll I I4 and a horizontal hollow drum H5 and thence around the lower portion of the drum in contact with which the tube is held by suction applied through openings H6 in the peripheral wall of the drum from a suction chamber II! that is formed between the peripheral wall of the drum and a valve block II8 which is connected to a tubular shaft II9 that is in turn connected to a suction-producing apparatus. As shown, the valve block I I8 is cut away to form the vacuum chamber and the shaft II9 has an arcuate slot I20 for establishing communication between the vacuum chamber and the interior of the shaft. .The suction chamber II! is coextensive with the portion of the periphery of the drum from approximately a vertical diametral plane of the drum to a point substantially above the horizontal diametral plane, so that the suction continuously applied through the shaft I I 9 will hold the package tube 4 in snug contact with the periphery of the drum while the openings H6 in the drum that underlie the package tube are in communication with the suction chamber. The valve block prevents communication of said openings I II; with the suction chamber throughout the remainder of the periphery of the drum.

While the package tube is carried by the drum I IS, the opposed walls thereof are sealed together transversely by a sealin roll I2I that also has severing blades I22 for slitting the package tube transversely adjacent the sealed zones I23, as indicated at I24, into sections of package length.

After the package tube has been slitted, it is carried on the drum II5 upwardly between said drum and a similar drum I25 that has openings I20 in its periphery like the openings H6 which communicate with a suction chamber I21 formed within th drum by a valve block I23, said suction chamber communicating with the suctionproducing apparatus herein efore mentioned through an arcuate slot I29 in a tubular. shaft I30 on which the drum I25 is rotatably mounted. The suction chamber I28 is coextensive with the upper portion of the drum I25 from slightly below the horizontal diametral plane thereof to a point substantially beyond the vertical diametral plane so that the openings at said upper portion of the drum communicate with the suction chamber, the valve block I28 preventing communication of the openings I26 with the suction chamber throughout the remainder of the circumference of the drum.

The feed roll I I4 and drums H5 and I25 being rotated in the directions indicated by the arrows by any suitable means, the package tube is first transversely scaled and slit by the roll I2I and then as the slitted tube is carried upwardly between the drums I I5 and I25 and above the horizontal diametral plane thereof, the side walls of the package tube will be pulled apart by suctional adherence of said walls to the peripheries of said drums, so as to form an opening at the upper end of the partially completed package. Thereupon, the substance to be packaged is deposited into the package through the open end thereof by the depositing spout I3I of the hopper I32 for the substance beingpackaged, the deposit of said substance being controlled by any suitable means such as that shownin Figure 1. Then continued rotation of the drums interrupts the suctional adherenceof the walhot'. the-'paekageto thedrum. H while the drum 525 carries the package upwardly'beneat'hia closing; blade I33 which presses the edge portions of the walls at the open end of the package together, whereupon said edge portions pass. between another sealing roll I35 and the periphery of the drum. L25 which forms a sealed zone 13 6 across the previously open end of the package to complete the package F. Then, as the drum I25 continues to. rotate, the valve bl'o'ck l zafiinterrupts the influence of the suction on the package to. permit the latter to dropby avity from. the drum.

It will be understoodthat the: openings H 6 and I26 in the drum. will. be properly circumferentially spaced according to the length of the packages being made, and as shown, there is one opening in each drum for each package.

While I have shown and described several embodiments of the method and apparatus of the invention, it should be understood that this is primarily for the purpose of explaining the prin ciples of the invention and that many modifications and changes can be made in the steps of the method and in the structure of the machine within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

l. A method of filling packages, comprising feeding vertically longitudinally a tube of flexible packaging material having opposed wall portions, sealing the tube in a transverse zone, slitting at least a portion of the wall of the tube transversely above said transverse zone to form a filling opening while maintaining the integrity of the tube, depositing through said filling opening a substance to be packaged, closing said opening to complete the package.

2. A method of filling packages, comprising feeding vertically longitudinally a tube of flexible packaging material having opposed wall portions, sealing the tube in a transverse zone, pulling said opposed portions of the tube walls into spaced relation to each other and slitting one wall portion transversely intermediate its longitudinal edges above said sealed zone to form a filling opening while maintaining the integrity of the tube, while said walls are held in spaced relation depositing a substance to be packaged through said opening, and closing said opening to complete the package.

3. A machine for making and filling packages comprising means for feeding vertically longitudinally a tube of flexible packaging material having opposed wall portions, means for sealing said tube transversely in zones spaced longitudinally of the tube, means for slitting at least a portion of the walls of the tube transversely above each said transverse zone and for forming a filling opening at the slit while maintaining the integrity of the tube, depositing through said filling opening a substance to be packaged and closing said opening to complete the package.

4. A method of making and filling packages comprising feeding a tube of flexible packaging material longitudinally in substantially fiat condition, sealing said tub transversely in zones spaced longitudinally of the tube, slitting at least a portion of the walls of the tube transversely adjacent each sealed zone while maintaining the integrity of the tube, flexing the walls of said tube adjacent each slit to form a filling opening, while said walls are so flexed depositing through said opening a substance to be packaged, and closing said opening.

5;.-A, method: of making and-filling. packages comprising-feeding; a tube of flexible packaging; material 'longitudinally in substantially flat; condition, sealing-said tube transversely in zones.

spaced longitudinally of the tube, slitting atleast' a portion-of; the walls of; the, tube transversely adjacent each sealedzonewhile maintaining the integrityof the; tube, flexing the wallsoi said. tube; adjacent each 'slit. to form afilling-opening, while asaid. walls are so: flexed depositing through saidopening, asubstance to; be packaged; and sealing-said tube between: each said opening and the-remoter one of two of said 'sea-ledz zones next" adjament saidiopening;

6: A methodzofgmaking and filling:v packages eomprisingfeeding: a' tube; ofrflexible: packaging material longitudinally in substantially flat condition, sealing said tube transversely in zones spaced longitudinally of the tube, slitting at least a portion of the walls of the tube transversely at one side of and adjacent each sealed zone while maintaining the integrity of the tube, gripping the outside surface of at least one of said opposed walls at said side of the sealed zone adjacent said slit and pulling and holding it away from the other wall to form a filling opening at said slit between said walls, while so holding said Wall depositing through said'opening a substance to be packaged, and closing said opening.

7. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein both of said walls are slit.

8. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein both of said walls are slit intermediate the longitudinal edges of said tube.

9. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein both of said walls are slit intermediate the longitudinal edges of said tube and both of said walls are gripped and each pulled away from the other to form the filling opening.

10. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein both of said walls are slit inwardly from one longitudinal edge of said tube to a point short of the opposite edge, both of said walls are gripped and are pulled apart to form the filling opening, with the additional step of laterally defleeting away from said opening the portion of the tube above said slit.

11. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein only one of said opposed walls is slit and said wall is flexed by gripping the outer surface thereof and pulling the wall away from the other wall.

12. A machine for making and filling packages, comprising means for feeding longitudinally a flattened tube of flexible packaging material having opposed wall portions, means for sealing said tube transversely in zones spaced longitudinally of the tube, means for slitting at least a portion of the walls of the tube transversely at one side of and adjacent each sealed zone and for maintaining the integrity of the tube, means for flexing the opposed wall portions of said tube at said side of said sealed zone adjacent each slit to form a filling opening, means for depositing through said opening a substance to be packaged, and means for closing said opening to complete the package.

13. A machine for making and filling pack-= ages, comprising means for feeding longitudinally a flattened tube of flexible packaging material having opposed wall portions, means for sealing said tube transversely in zones spaced longitudinally of the tube, means for slitting at least a portion of the walls of the tube transversely adjacent each sealed zone and for maintaining the integrity of the tube, means for gripping the 11 outside surface of at least one of said opposed wall portions at said side of said sealed zone adjacent the slit and pulling it away from the other wall portion to form a filling opening therebetween, means for depositing through said opening a substance to be packaged, and means for sealing together said walls of the tube between each said opening and'the remoter one of two of said sealed zones next adjacent said opening.

14. A machine as defined in claim 3 wherein 1 the means for pulling the opposed portions of the tube walls into spaced relation comprises at least one element having an adhesive surface movable in opposite directions to adhesively contact with one wall portion upon movement in one direction and to move said wall with said element upon movement thereof in the other dl'r'eo tion.

LEROY L. SALFISBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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